I know, I know, Winner of Worlds Worest Blogger...

Man, how do you keep up with life?  I just seem to get farther and farther behind... Homecoming week was fantabulish!  Never had so much fun.  Shan has had an awesome vball season, which came to an end this last weekend.  They took third which, for Rich, is like kissing your sister.  She gets my vote for most improved player of the year - LOVE YA GIRLIE!  Got a wicked sprained ankle in the semi-final match, but PT says she will live.  Kayd is having an unbelievable fball season - this next weekend is semi finals down at Snow College then the next weekend (Nov. 13) is finals down at Cedar.  I expect ALL to be there to cheer us on.  Actually, we are trying to move it to a closer venue, but no news yet.  Halloween was ok - not my fav holiday.  Here's a few pics - enjoy!

Kam and his football team - These two are his favorite "big boys".  He knows how to choose his friends wisely!

Kayden running for his life!

Kam and Company for Halloween.

What can I say?

My Little Mario!

Don't be thinkin' it was National NED day... That is Kayds nick name to everyone except us.

Ta da!  The finished product(s)!

Tierneys Vball team made it to State for the first time ever!  Way to go, Wendover~

Absolutely LOVE this pic.  Shani is serving the ball but it looks like Kayden has taken it right out of mid-air.  The big TEASE!!

Shani on the homecoming float "A season to remember"

Homecoming royalty at half time.

Kayden stretching it out for a touchdown during homecoming game vs. Layton Christian.

King Kayden talking at homecoming assembly.

Senior day at final home football game.  What?  Kayd is a senior? 

That's my GIRLIE going up for a block against Morgan, the #1 team in the STATE!  They beat us 3-1.  That's all for now - HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

What a F*U*N week this is going to be!!!

Wow!

Does this look like early Halloween or what?  I know, I should be in heaven, but let me explain...  As most of you know, a dear friend passed away about a month ago from a year-long battle with cancer.  Her passing really threw our little community for a loop.  She was just a little older than me... Last night, another dear friend passed away.  Suddenly, without notice, a blood clot took her away.  One of the sweetest ladies ever... Father in Heaven called another rose back home to his own garden.  I am so happy for her - she was one of those who earned her "Golden Passport to Heaven" a long, long time ago and there is no doubt Heavenly Father greeted her with open arms.  But what about poor Howard, her husband?  I have just sobbed all day for him...  They, too, are just a little older than us.  He is the Bishop in the other ward.  He did most of Jesses' priesthood ordinances for us.  But how do these men carry on?  I just don't get it...

So - is it easier to know death is coming, or to have it happen suddenly?  Are we living each day like it is our last?  Have we earned our "Golden Passport" yet?  Should we be doing more?  Or less?  Are we serving others, or our selves?  Do we stop to view the sunrise on the way to the bus stop, or cuss the kids for some dumb, little thing that really doesn't matter in the end...  Do we eat the raw cookie dough, or make the kids wait until the cookies are cooked?  Do we wave at people who aren't "in our circle" or just hurry on by?  Can you tell I have had a rough day?  Do you let the new puppy stay in the house when she slides in between your feet or kick her back outside?  Do the kids HAVE to finish their vegetables?  Are we living for the moment, cuz it just might be the LAST one we, or a loved one, might have.  UGH!

Back to the chocolate... I have sat here all day writing the program for our Primary program... Got so frustrated I texted a friend and said "I need chocolate" she replied "where and when" I said "JK- still haven't showered, in pjs, teeth are unbrushed, just sayin..." and she was here in 10 minutes with this buttload of chocolate.  Our friend who passed away last night had surgery on her foot the same day Kam had his appx. out.  The "chocolate fairy" had bought flowers for the surgery friend, but didn't get time to deliver them up to her house...  She said she is never going to miss an opportunity to visit a friend again...  Lucky me!  So... Just sayin'... Hug every one you see tonight; and tomorrow; and the next day... Cuz you never know when you will lose them...

Too Funny...

I soooooooo don't have time for this but couldn't resist...  Working over-time on a graphic project that was supposed to be done Saturday and I HAVE to finish it tonight.  But took a break to start dinner and ran down to the garden to dig up potatoes.  I was surprised the zuccini was still going strong.  So I decided to share with you, my friends, a picture of my findings:

I know, I know, nothing spectacular... Just a red potato and a zuccini that is a little on the large size but not bad.  But to put it all in perspective, let's add one more item for comparison... Say, a baseball!

Now you tell me - is that the biggest honkin' potato you have ever seen?  Mom would be so proud!  I think you could easily feed a family of 6 off of it.  And remember how we used to make cucumber boats out of mom's cucumbers when they got too big and seedy to eat?  I'm tellin' ya, if I was to clean this baby out and make a cruiser out of it, it would make the Titanic look minute!  Okay, back to work... hope you got a smile out of this post - remember, LIFE IS GOOD!

Whew...

Little overwhelmed tonight - Don't know why.  Must be PMS...  Have been working on a graphic project for 50 hours straight and still have at least another day to go.  I love doing it, but sitting at the 'puter non-stop gets old in a hurry.  Hats off to you transcriptionists!  Maybe it has to do with being a mother... I have three kids at home...

Each obviously with their own personalities.  And I love each of them for so many different reasons.  And am proud of them for their own individual accomplishments.  Maybe we are just pushing our selves over the limit.  For example: yesterday - kids wake up at 6:15 and the older two are out the door at 6:55 and the little guy at 7:20 a.m.  Older kids stay at school for athletics and little guy hops the bus and rides to the high school so he, too, can practice.  All three had rather frustrating practices (2,200 double jumps - are you kidding me? You will have to ask her to explain what a double jump is).  Then the big guy goes to watch last weeks' game film while the younger two come home - at 7:00 p.m.  Now THAT is a long day...  Kayd doesn't get home until 8:15 - and did I happen to mention it was his birthday?  So dinner didn't even get served until 8:30.  Then homework, showers, and off to bed - much too late.  Wake up today, and do it all over again... Whew.  Only difference, Tuesday is YM YW and Scouts after practice...  And the G6 got a flat on the way home last night (vehicle #1 down) so Shan had to take mine to school early to finish double jumps (vehicle #2 gone) and Ned went up to check a job in Bridgerland and threw a tire rod on the truck (vehicle #3 down and out) so that left me with the backhoe, the 4-wheeler, or the alpacas...  Good thing I was tied to the 'puter!  No wonder the emotions were flyin' high tonight - Had all three with, shall we say, their emotions on their shirt sleeves (and my shoulder)... What is a mother to do?  Just blog I guess and wait to see what the next day brings...  And last but not least, when I started this blog I glanced at the clock and it was 11:11 - my moms magic time.  Hard to cry on your own shoulder...

But, when all is said and done... I wouldn't trade motherhood for anything in the world.  Only thing I regret is not having 10 more kids!  Jess and Tier - love you, too.  Life Is Good...

Now look what followed me home!

Remember - I do turn 50 this year.  So I am due for a mid-life crisis, right?  Most people do something crazy like buy a new car, a new boat, etc... Not me - I never have been very "normal", now have I?  Apparently, to satisfy my hunger, I must surround myself with animals.  Lil Lady, my new golden retriever, is all I could have dreamed of and much more.  She is fitting in just fine.  But what was I supposed to say when a friend here in town stopped in and said that he had decided to get rid of his...

A L P A C A S !!!

Are they the cutest things or what???  They are both male, and one is about 2 and one is about 3 years old.  The previous owner never bothered to name them so here we go:  NAME TAMS' ALPACAS! The contest will be open for, lets say... One week.  Show the pics to your kids so they can join in the fun, too!

This guy will be exhibit #1

And this one will be exhibit #2.

Yes, I did mention to him that he had a little something hanging from his upper gum, but I think he was using it as a tooth pick maybe... 

I will start the fun out with saying #1 is "SALT"  and #2 is "PEPPER"  - quite original don't you think?  Don't delay in getting your names submitted - there is the possibility of quite a grand prize going to the winner!  Love ya!!!

Life and Times of the Calders...

Wow! Where did summer go? This has to have been the quickest summer of our lives... Really shows how much we need to live for the minute and appreciate each new day for what it is - because tomorrow, today will be yesterday!  Pretty profound, huh?  So I will try and wrap up the last month all in one post:

Newest member of our family:  "LADY"  Got her this last week in a wonderful little town called Hooper.  She is everything we could have dreamed for.  Her mom looks a lot like Cheyenne.  Let the puppy days begin!

Everyone was excited for school to start - which is a good thing, right?  I wondered about Kam making it a full day since he was only 6 days post-surgery, but he was a trooper.  Football practice starts on Tuesday and he can work out but just not hit (or get hit?...) for a couple of weeks.  He is PSYCHED!

Shani is just my girly-girl.  She had a really fun time working at the "Berry Bowl" this summer.  It is a new yogurt joint here in town this year.  It taught her great people skills and responsibility.  Needless to say, she was a life-saver in the raspberries.  Hers is a "dumb" job, but hey - somebody has to do it.  Her dad has a new appreciation for her since he has had to be the "patch master" the last couple of weeks.  Volleyball started this last weekend with a tourney up in Cokeville.  She is starting varsity as an opposite.  I love this girl!

And then there was Kayden...
Worked all summer at the golf course perfecting not only his game, but his tan.  Helped us when he could in the raspberries...  Worked hard at conditioning and weight lifting.  We will see if it pays off...  Played his first football game of the season last Friday at Mt. View, WY.  Got a win but had lots of injuries on the team.  He is the most "fashion-conscious" boy I have ever seen.  School shopping was a hoot with him.  Had to make sure his shoes matched his shirt which had to go good with his levis...  Kinda like him, too!

Let's hope September is as fun as August has been. 

And Then...

Talking to Lar on the phone tonite and she cussed me for not updating on Kams condition so I better get on it!!!  Mondays appointment confirmed appendix troubles so Tuesday it was surgically removed and we came home Wednesday around noon.  He was a real trooper through all of it.  Dr. Anderson (what a fun guy!) was suspicious of some other condition (Meckles Div something or other - check with the translady) besides the stone in the appendix would just continue to cause problems and part of it was enlarged so WHAM BAM THANK YOU MAME and it was out. I am totally convinced his episode in Boise last summer was the same thing so hopefully this will solve a lot of questions - and he can eat all the red licorice he wants! The first couple of days were a little rough - then he snapped right out of it and felt great.  Went to church sunday and did fine so went to school today.  Yeah right - an elementary student missing the first day of school???  Not happenin'.  And again he did great.  He sure has been through a lot for a little guy!  I was a mean mommy and took videos of him coming out of the anesthesia and they are HILARIOUS!!! But I havent figured out how to get them from my phone to the blog so stay tuned for that, too!

Messin around BEFORE surgery - listening to tunes with his buddy, Blackie.

AFTER surgery... Not quite so chipper... But Blackie is still hangin' in there.

Walkin' the halls...

Tryin' to catch a lil shut eye... Glad SOMEONE did!

Is it just me, or do you think they got a little wild with the iodine?  Hope they don't charge by the ounce!

Thanks for experiencing this experience with us... And thanks for all the phone calls, visits, texts, etc.  They all meant a lot to Kam and me, too!

Todays vocabulary word is...

I N T U S S U S C E P T I O N:  "...When one part of the bowel folds "inside-out".  One part of the bowel encompasses another part like a telescope.  Solved by applying one mega-sized barium enema to the "affected area".  Does not make an 11-year old very happy...

Before...

After !

Amazing what a little pain medicine can do for a kid!!!  Threw up a few times during the night and then started screaming randomly when pain would come.  Called doc and went to clinic and diagnosed it as appendicitis.  Went to LRH and after an ultrasound, they decided it was that lovely word intussusception. Option was to try enema and see if the pressure of it would unfold the inside-out area.  As uncomfortable as it was, it worked.  Chance it will happen again in the next few days and if so, they operate and remove the bad part of the intestine.  BUT... that is not all.  Although the appendix was only slightly enlarged, there is a round, hard thing in it.  Like a stone I guess.  So have to go see a specialist on Monday to decide what direction to go with that one... Stay tuned!!!  (Never  a dull moment, is there mothers...)

And may I please give one great big THANKS to Trish Wallentine and her kids for filling in at the raspberry stand... That's what friends are for!